There is a romanticized view out there of what the Nuggets need in the frontcourt, how they can attain it, and what the short and long-term benefits might be. There are a lot of generalities floating without nuts-and-bolts application. It’s nuts-and-bolts time.

I wrote a column in the newspaper on Tuesday saying the Nuggets didn’t don’t desperately need frontcourt help in order to win big in the playoffs. It sparked fantastic debate on the subject, as I hope this will continue the chatter.

No, the Nuggets should not add another big body to the bench. There isn’t really a good reason to do it. They already have two others in Johan Petro and Malik Allen. Now, if they were to move a big piece, like a J.R. Smith, to add a player that would come in and actually play significant minutes, that’s another discussion altogether.

But this roster built well. Let’s take the points one-by-one:

1. The Nuggets Need a Player to Come in and Spell Kenyon Martin/Nene/Chris Andersen – This has been an on-going experiment over the years: Francisco Elson, Jamal Sampson, Steven Hunter, Reggie Evans and now Petro and Allen. If there’s one thing the Nuggets have proven over the last three or four years it’s that a big body isn’t necessarily a productive body; and there’s no guarantee they’d ever play one with enough consistency to truly find out. The Nuggets run a tight rotation, basically eight deep; nine on good nights. Off the bench spots are reserved for J.R. Smith (27.5 mpg), Chris Andersen (22.4 mpg) and Ty Lawson (22.7 mpg). Add in Anthony Carter’s 18.7 mpg and you have a lineup that no other player can crack unless there are injuries. Joey Graham and Renaldo Balkman are both capable players, but there’s no time for them. The air-tight nature of the Nuggets’ bench was never better illustrated than when Channing Frye, the 6-11 Phoenix 3-point specialist, turned down a free agent contract offer from the Nuggets last summer because, “For me, it was just a matter of going somewhere where I was going to have more of an opportunity…” he told me in an interview in December.

Very few, if any, teams in the NBA even play four legitimate post players 10 minutes or more per game. The Lakers don’t even do that. It’s just that their three as a collective are better than everyone else’s. After Andrew Bynum/Pau Gasol/Lamar Odom they only have one player that stands over 6-8 – D.J. Mbenga, and he’s a spot center. Four bigs that play enough to produce tangible stats is not how the NBA operates. Three post players is the norm. In Martin/Nene/Andersen, the Nuggets have three. If the Nuggets have three they like – and they do – then why trade any commodity for a player that’s going to sit on the bench? If you need fouls, Petro and Allen can provide 12. You don’t trade for fouls. If you’re talking about resting Martin or Nene for five minutes a game, you don’t trade for that either. Allen and Petro are capable. There’s no significant ‘production’ to be had in five-10 minutes per game. What is good production for a 10 minute player? Two rebounds? Three rebounds and two points? Maybe a blocked shot? Are we saying that all that stands between the Nuggets and an NBA title is a 10-minute, 2.3-point, 2.7-rebound, 0.9-block per game player? For their sake, I certainly hope not.

If stopping Pau Gasol is the aim, this not an issue indigenous to the Nuggets. They aren’t cornering the market on not stopping Pau Gasol. I’ll show you 29 other teams in the NBA that can’t get it done either. Gasol is just a great player. He’s a perennial all-star that if he continues on this road, will push to be a hall of famer. A new 10-minute per game player isn’t going to stop his 20 points and 10 rebounds from happening. Some of the NBA’s best defensive big men struggle to slow him down.

Comparing, say, a Lamar Odom to Chris Andersen production-wise makes no sense because the two teams are constructed differently and those two players play completely different roles. We’re still talking about team basketball. J.R. Smith is the point producer off the bench for the Nuggets. Odom is the point producer off of the Lakers’ bench. Sixth-man to sixth-man is the comparison. Odom’s points are integral to the Lakers success. Smith’s points are integral to the Nuggets success. Andersen’s energy, rebounding and blocked shots are what the Nuggets look for from him, and he’s one of the best in the business. Comparing height-to-height without considering the makeup of the team and the role each is asked to play is more than a bit naïve.

2. Money – Samuel Dalembert makes $12 million this year and $12 million next season. He will not be in a Nuggets uniform this year. Memphis’ Marc Gasol is player that team is keeping, so that’s out. Washington center Brendan Haywood is making $6 million this year on an expiring contract. Why take on even part of that when the Nuggets could wait a few months and perhaps get him at a cheaper price in free agency? And while he’s an active player, he’s a career-7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in 24 minutes player. He’s having a good season averaging 9.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots in 33.9 minutes this year as a starter. The Nuggets wouldn’t start him, so he’d be used similarly to how he was in Washington in 2006-07, when he played in 77 games, started 49 of those and averaged 6.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots in 22.6 minutes. This year, Chris Andersen averages 5.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots in 22.4 minutes in what has been an injury-riddled season for him. Virtually no difference there and the Nuggets get better basket presence with the blocks from Andersen.

The Reggie Evans experiment has been done. He was simply too much of an offensive liability, who makes it certain that Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups and Nene and anyone else will get doubled with no fear that Evans would hurt them. He averaged 5.9 points and 6.8 rebounds in 18.1 minutes in eight games with the Nuggets in 2006-07. Again, Andersen easily covers that production. Jeff Foster is a move the Nuggets have reportedly tried to make. If they are somehow able to get it done in the future, the question still remains: How much can you play him? Enough to make a difference? Is Jeff Foster’s presence – whether from a production standpoint or from a rest-the-other-big-men standpoint – the difference between a title or no title for the Nuggets. I’d argue not.

And the Nuggets aren’t the only one looking. Competition for frontcourt help is fierce. Portland is in need of a big man. Charlotte has feelers out. New Jersey traded Eduardo Najera to Dallas for a pretty good one in Kris Humphries. The Mavericks certainly weren’t about to trade Humphries to a team in the Western Conference like the Nuggets, where he could come back and potentially haunt them in the playoffs. The market is full of seekers.

3. Practicality – If the Nuggets were to add significant frontcourt help, the only way to do so would be to move someone that plays big minutes. If you trade for Allen Iverson, you’ve got to get rid of an Andre Miller. The new player has to slot into the old one’s minutes. It’s the only way to get the type of production and presence that is wanted by so many. But if they were to move a J.R. Smith and add a post player, it would also change the personality of the team. If the Nuggets hypothetically ran a handful of plays for Smith, do those now go to Big Man A? And if so, does it makes the Nuggets, a free flowing, pass-oriented team, more of a half-court, dump-down and kick-out team? Maybe more of a pick-and-roll team? Do they want to significantly change the face of what they’re doing when they are having a hard time right now even making the right decisions in their current system? It’s a tough decision, and a gamble.

A few nights ago, the Nuggets held arguably the NBA’s most dominant big man this season, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, to eight points on 1-of-7 shooting. This team is capable of overcoming height disadvantages to win games.

It’s an interesting topic, to be sure. We’ll see if the Nuggets make a move or not, and whatever happens, how they fare either way.

Be serious, Chris. The Nuggets are not a free flowing pass-oriented team. ATTACK is their game…attack the rim…attack the paint…mostly give the ball to Melo and watch him bully his way to the basket…get the put-in or get the foul call…and hopefully, get both. When they get the calls; they can beat any team…when they don't get the calls; they can lose to any team…even Minneapolis. That is why the FO was so 'right on' in trying to get Channing Frye…a BIG who can go to the perimeter with a god shot. opening the middle for the ATTACKERS. Chris, they still need that kind of BIG…for just a 10minuet change -of-pace. Give him half of AC's time. He will not only shoot the 3; but set high picks & posts to free the attackers…and a little pick and pop for more change-of-pace. Who might I have in mind? The Clippers have him sitting on th bench.

Josh

Dempsey,The problem with Bird isn't his scoring, rebounding or help defense. He is not a good on the ball defender. He is consistently beat by his man. He also can't create in the post, and relies on put backs. You have 'Melo driving and being triple teamed and Bird and the boys just stand around hoping he will be fouled or pull off another miracle shot. 'Melo will draw the double team and what we need is another player who will cut to the basket and demand the ball. I'm not saying that the Nuggs should trade JR for a serviceable big, but if they can unload Bird, or in the case of the Foster deal pieces for another decent big they should do it. If Denver gets teams playing to their tempo Bird is good because he can swoop in for a block but when things slow down against elite teams in the playoffs, he becomes a liability. Add to that the fact that we can't seem to win without Martin in the lineup, and another interior defender seems to be in order.

NickSaban

Chris Dempsey,I see you responded to my comparison of Anderson/Odom…I'm glad you at least thought about it. I would agree with you to a certain amount that they obviously play different rolls on each team. And that is the problem…Odom plays the roll of a defender, scorer, point/forward, shot blocker, and basically he does a little of everything. Birdman plays the roll of shot blocker, energy guy, poor post defender, offensive liability, and a guy who gives up numerous 'O' boards because he continues to leave his feet for shot blocks. Basically, I think you and I just disagree on the idea that Birdman is a legitamate big man for a title contending team. As I said in the earlier post, not once have I ever seen him score in a one on one post situation. Never. And I watch a lot of games… His energy is great, he gets the crowd involved and that is fine and dandy for fans who don't understand what wins championships. If you haven't noticed Staples Center is probably the quitest arena in the league, yet it is home to the NBA champs. That is because the Lakers (who has a coach who understands this idea) don't feed off of emotion. They understand that emoption only leaves you vulnerable to a let down. They understand that if you're counting on emotion to consistantly win you games, you can't win an NBA championship. Instead, they contest shots without leaving themselves vulnerable for offensive rebounds. Instead, every player they put on the floor is a viable scoring option so that the opposition can't just leave a guy wide open to give help to on the superstars. So in my humble opinion, we should try to trade Birdman for another big. Unfortunately, we over paid him and I would be shocked if any team would be willing to trade a post who is actually an offensive threat for him. I notice you are into J.R. being more consistant…Well we all are. The fact is that he has only had one year where he was even remotely consistant (last year), and even then he was erratic as all hell. You have to look at the fact that J.R. is much more likely to play inconsistantly and not be accountable defensively or in the turnover column, because in the past and as of right now that is reality. Chris, if you are seriously thinking about how to beat the Lakers, please watch tapes from last years games. You have to understand that the key to their success was their ability to make life harder on Anthony and Billups. They did so by not honoring Carter or Anderson. Theoretically, we have fixed the Carter problem (I say that knowing GK could go back to his love affair at any moment), but Birdman is our achilis heel. If you disagree, I would love to hear your explanation as to what strategy they used to beat us 4 times in the WCF (brettclo@comcast.net) . Please, watch the games and tell me if I'm inaccurate…. Roll Tide!!

NUGSABAFAN

The big we need is to be the starting center, a true 7'er and move Nene to be the starting power forward.Martin makes WAY to much money for what he provides. He's a good one on one defender but watchhim when he's off the ball and often he is just standing around watching. I don't subscribe to the notionof adding a big at the expense of JR, and Martin would be fine coming off the bench at a reasonable price,but at his current price, the Nuggets are stuck with what they've got relative to dramatically changing their team for a championship run. As for a big guy to play those 10 minutes occasionally, how about aconsideration for Jason Smith – an outside shot 7'er kinda guy that has a bit of a mean streak and willbang when in a physical kinda game. I'd much rather have him than Allen or Petro as he has much more upside to him. Next year, Martin could more easily be traded for his expiring contract, and then the Nuggets will have their shot in the finals.

randy

Instead of resigning Chris Anderson. The nuggets should have went after David Lee. They could have signed him for the same money as the knicks did. Plus use the 10million dollar trade exception to get him. With David Lee on this team. I believe the nuggets would be leading the league in wins.

stopporkbills

Chris, Great analysis. I know everyone has different views on the players and coaches but your article was the first one I've read that go into reasonable depth from his perspective. My two bits is that we need a player who can step in and spell the starters or serve as an injury-replacement without the team sputtering into defeat. It was glaringly obvious when we had one injured starter in the losses. Plus, I cringe when I see players get close to 40 minutes a game because that's a tell-sign that we couldn't spell that guy. Thanks!

Chad

I agree that we should trade position for position, that's why we should send Nene to Toronto, sweetin it with JR and get Bosh. He is a scorer (more that Nene and JR) and a rebounding machine. Nene is getting out rebounded by many Nugget players every night, especially that old Kenyon Martin with the bad knees. Billups out rebounded him the other night when Kmart got ejected.

steveo18

the issue with the big man is not about production, its about rest. Nene is more than capable. Anderson has proven himself as a useful force. what we need is rest!!! an adaquete back up to rest Nene, not a replacement. Dude needs rest!!! just spell him for a few

steveo18

I dont think the issue is production, its defense. The Nugs need help up front for a couple reasons: the most important is resting Nene, second they need someone off the bench to stop the big men in the west that just dominate off the bench.

steveo18

Sorry Chad but I couldn't disagree with you more. 1. Bosh is not a center (which we need in the West) 2 Kenyon is killing it. Its totally unfair to compair rebounds as you did with Billups when a guy gets ejected in the first half, (go ahead and compare Chauncey and Kenyons rebounds over the last month). I would love Bosh on this team, and would be willing to trade Kmart and JR for him but I think the key to our success in the west is Nene!

Chad

Sorry man, I was saying Nene was out rebounded and yes Martin is killing it, even though he is old. Nene should be leading the team with double doubles and rebounds. I don't think the Nuggets need a big center, they are too fast of a team and someone that can rebound all those shots they take can make the real impact.

Chad

Sorry man, I was saying Nene was out rebounded and yes Martin is killing it, even though he is old. Nene should be leading the team with double doubles and rebounds. I don't think the Nuggets need a big center, they are too fast of a team and someone that can rebound all those shots they take can make the real impact.

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.